Varicocele: A Review on Its Impacts on Fertility

Abstract

Male infertility is characterized by low sperm production due to various factors, with one of the main ones being varicocele, a generally asymptomatic condition that negatively impacts male fertility by causing a reduction in testicular volume and decreased sperm production and quality. In these cases, a physical examination through palpation should be performed, and the patient's semen analysis should be requested. It is known that evaluating semen quality is an essential test to investigate the possible causes of infertility in couples. Therefore, this literature review article aims to present the causes and treatment of varicocele and understand its potential impact on male fertility. To guide this critical literature review, article selection and bibliographic review procedures based on meta-analyses were used. The search was conducted in databases such as Google Scholar and Scielo. It was found that varicocele is the most common clinical finding among infertile men. The definitive diagnosis is based on reduced testicular volume and/or prominent testicular veins. Early detection of the disease and prompt treatment show success in more than 90% of cases. It is concluded that varicocele correction surgery is recommended as the most appropriate treatment, which can improve fertility.